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Chapter 2

Author: Against the Flow
The second the truth hit, I crumbled.

Everything went dark. Hope? Gone.

I stood outside the door, lips shaking, but no sound came—just tears.

Zachary's words cut deep, like a thousand stabs, stealing my breath.

My chest burned, then went cold.

I kept seeing him that morning, kissing my cheek like nothing was wrong.

Saying he couldn't live without me. Pressing my hand to his chest like his heart only beat for me.

But it was all fake.

When I got home, I still held on, thinking it was some stupid mix-up.

Then he said it—he couldn't live without both me and Cathryn.

That's when it clicked. Zachary didn't fall for one woman. He fell for two.

And he never planned to choose. He just wanted his childhood sweetheart and his side piece.

Our "wedding"? Just a private show.

The real marriage certificate? It had her name.

I wasn't his wife. I was just the other woman.

What a twisted game he played.

So this was the love behind all those sweet vows?

I remembered when Zachary climbed that huge tree just to pick me apples. Fell, broke both legs, still handed me one with a smile.

"Sierra, don't cry. If you eat it, it won't hurt anymore."

On my sixteenth birthday, he waited all night in the freezing cold, just so he'd be the first to give me the gift.

"Happy birthday, Sierra."

At my coming-of-age ceremony, he rented out the entire town square. Had drones spell out a message in the sky. Got down on one knee, holding flowers.

"Sierra, when you turn twenty, let's get married, okay?"

The day I flew overseas for college, he hugged me tight, eyes red, voice shaking.

"If you're not back in two years, I'm flying out to kidnap you."

After that, we FaceTimed every day.

One time, I got swamped with school and missed his call.

Ethan sent me a clip—Zachary, wasted, getting patched up in the ER.

He was lying there, broken.

"Sierra, I love you. I can't live without you."

I was so freaked out, I booked the next flight home.

Wanted to surprise him, so I kept quiet.

But when I opened his office door... he was kissing a girl who looked just like me.

I ran, crying, and he chased me for blocks.

Called nonstop. When I ignored him, the texts kept coming.

When I shut him out, he camped outside my place for three days, begging. "Sierra, I was drunk—I thought she was you.

"I missed you so much, I found someone who looked like you.

"I swear, it was just a kiss. Nothing else.

"I screwed up. But I love you so much, I saw you in her."

When he finally collapsed, weak and refusing to leave, I broke.

And I forgave him.

After that, things went back to normal—at least, that's what I told myself.

But once we got married, I noticed his assistant had changed.

Cathryn was back, even though she'd quit ages ago.

I was pissed. He smoothed it over.

"Her parents died. No degree. She had nowhere to go. She reapplied like everyone else. I couldn't just turn her away."

I let it slide. Because I loved him.

But all that patience? It just made me the idiot.

The side chick in a fake marriage.

I gave him everything—

And he left me with scars and a heart that'll never be whole again.

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    I opened my eyes, grabbed a document off the table, and handed it to Zachary. "Sign it."He flipped through a few pages, then froze. "You want my company?"I leaned in, smiling sharp. "Yep. I'm gonna take everything—and tear it down, piece by piece."His hands shook as he clutched the papers, emotions twisting across his face."You don't have a choice," I said flatly. "You know your company's circling the drain. Sign or don't—I'll still watch it crash."As he struggled, the thrill wore off. I felt nothing."Sierra, you're my wife," he said quietly. "Do we really have to end like this?"Still clinging to hope, he fished out old photos—memories he thought could save him. "This was your birthday... when I kissed you. This was the gift I gave you. That was us on vacation..."I love you. I'll spend my life making it right. Don't leave me. Come back and the company's yours."I took the photos, tore them up one by one, and let the pieces fall."That girl's gone—naïve, stupid. I'm no

  • I Was Never the Wife   Chapter 14

    I shut off the video, laughing bitterly.Now he pulls this? Please.Cathryn had one thing right—maybe he never loved anyone.The second his perfect little world cracked, the mask dropped.Well, since her real face is out there now, I figured she deserved a present.I gave the cops the footage of her kidnapping me. She got cuffed fast.Thought Zachary would rush to save her, but nope.Guess that cold heart of his? Totally real.He said he loved her, but the second things got messy, he dropped her like nothing.Honestly, that's just who he is.***Once the truth came out, Zachary got ahold of my number and wouldn't stop blowing up my phone—calls, texts, full-on regret mode.He even parked himself outside my company for days, just trying to catch a glimpse.I didn't bother.I kept hammering his company, reaching out to shareholders and making it clear—I was buying in.Zachary might've been sharp, but I'd already snatched up most of his key partnerships fast. That shook the

  • I Was Never the Wife   Chapter 13

    Cathryn's face went ghost-white the second she saw the video. She stumbled back, all wide-eyed and fake. "H-How could that be Ms. Arden?"Zachary's voice dropped—low, rough, like something straight out of hell. "You knew. You watched me beat her. You watched me cut off her finger."She backed up again, pale as death. "I didn't know. I swear."He stepped in close, grabbed her wrist. "You planned this, didn't you? If I catch you lying... that baby won't make it."His words hit like a lightning strike. She clutched her stomach—she was pregnant.After a few shaky seconds, with the proof staring her down and his threat hanging in the air, she cracked. Tears streamed as she trembled. "I'm sorry! I just loved you too much... I didn't mean for it to go this far. I didn't know what else to do."Zachary's eyes blew wide. Pain. Rage. Disgust. Helplessness. All of it slammed into him at once.He stood there, silent. Then finally let go. His whole face crumpled. He swayed, barely keeping upr

  • I Was Never the Wife   Chapter 12

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